Needle and clamp for use in pumping hams and the like



y 1962 w. E. SWARTZ 3,043,208

NEEDLE AND CLAMP FOR USE IN PUMPING HAMS AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 25, 1960 Y INVENTOR. P 6 MAL/4M f. SMIWZ ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofiice 3,043,208 NEEDLE AND CLAMP FOR USE IN PUMPING HAMS AND THE LIKE Wiiliam E. Swartz, McKeesport, Fa, assignor to Hagan Chemicals & Controls, 1:22., a corporation of Pennsyl- Vania Filed Jan. 25, 1960, Ser. No. 4,263 2 Claims. (Cl. 99-257) This invention relates to connections for flexible tubular conduits and rigid conduits. More particularly it presents improved means for inserting a needle into an open blood vessel or the like and clamping it thereto.

The invention described herein was made in response to a particular need. The meat packing industry has long been in need of an improved pickle pump needle. This want has been satisfied by my invention. Its use, however, need not be confined to this particular field. It may, for example, be used for the injection of embalming fluid into the circulation system. Or, a system of rubber tubing such as is used in the laboratory may be connected by my invention to another conduit or source of liquid. Other uses of my invention will appear as it is more fully described.

In the curing of meat such as hams, a generally accepted practice is to pump the pickling solution including sodium chloride, sodium nitrate, sodium nitrite, and sodium tripolyphosphate, into the ham through a main blood vessel, generally the femoral artery. Other main arteries are used in the case of shoulders, picnics, etc. It has been found that the natural circulation system of blood vessels provides excellent means for disseminating the pickling materials throughout the tissues. Other means, such as a plurality of needles similar to hypodermic needles to inject the pickle directly into the tissues, often result in uneven distribution of the pickle and consequently an uneven cure. The so-called high pressure injection method also has disadvantages, not the least of which is the damage done to the outer tissues if the needle is not kept the proper distance away from the ham.

The artery pumping method, although presently the best means for achieving uniform pickle distribution, has not lent itself to fast and efficient production. Whereas, the hypodermic method may be made relatively automatic, attempts to speed up production lines using the arterial pumping method have been unsuccessful. The primary hindrance has been the fact that the arteries of the ham are in many cases too short for the insertion devices heretofore in use. The end of the artery is likely not to protrude from the trimmed surface at all. The operator must find the severed artery, grasp it, pull the severed end partly out of the ham, and insert the needle into the artery as far as possible in order to form a secure joinder. This operation is time consuming and wasteful of pickle.

Another problem is associated with the fact that in many hams the femoral artery divides into its two main branches very near the trimmed surface of the ham. Since the operator using the type of needle heretofore generally used must attempt to insert it as far as possible into the artery in order to achieve a good connection, the end of the needle often is pushed through the Y and into one of the branches. Of course, results in an extremely unbalanced distribution of pickle in the ham.

My invention solves these problems and others, as will be seen from the more detailed description to follow. In addition, it has several distinct advantages. It enables the operator to pump far more hams per unit of time with convenience and assurance that there will be no cases of branch artery pumping.

My invention provides an instrument which may be held in the palm of the hand and entirely operated by discretion of the operator as well as compensating itself for wear resulting from normal use.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of the needle and clamp.

FIG. 2 is a cross section of the inside of the housing of FIGURE 1 showing the clamp pivots and cam in con-v tact with the clamps arms.

FIG. 3 shows an alternate clamp actuating means.

FIG. 4 shows the jaw action of the revolving type clamp.

FIG. 5 is a cross section of a cam-actuated clamp having pivots.

The operation of my invention may be most conveniently described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The end of the needle 1 is first inserted to the artery. The lever 2 is then pressed, turning cams 3, which actuate clamps 4 and 5 to grasp the outside of the artery. Springs 6 exerts a force on cams 3 tending to open the clamp. Other types of springs may, of course, be employed. The rear end 7 of the needle is connected to a source of pickle or other liquid, such as a pickle pump. Means for starting the flow of liquid may be located within the instrument or elsewhere, as on the pump.

Thus, it is apparent that my invention enables the operator to pump pickle into hams and the like through an artery which is practically unexposed. It will be found useful in any other environment where it is necessary to make connections with flexible or' elastic tubes having only very short ends exposed. Of course, it is also useful where the exposed ends are relatively long.

The variation of clamp member actuation shown in FIG. 3 shows an upright cam action operable on a pivot and actuated by a handle similar to the one shown in FIG. 1. The upward movement of the cam 30 turns levers 31 which cause clamp arms 34 and 50 to rotate.

FIG. 4 is a detailed View of the ends 15 of the clamp arms 4 and 5 and the needle 1. It illustrates the preferred rotational movement of the clamp members in the same relatively horizontal plane as the needle, and shows the preferred contour of the clamp ends. The ends 15 of the clamp members 4 and 5 are of the same or slightly larger curvature as the outside circumference of the needle. It will also be noticed from FIG. 4 that the ends 15 of the clamp members 4 and 5 will, in the preferred form of my invention, enclose susbtanti-ally the entire outer circumference of the needle. Thus, a strong, leakproof closure is provided as near as possible to the end of the needle. The end of the clamp member may even extend beyond the bevel edge of the needle.

FIG. 5 shows an alternate construction. It provides that the clamp members 20 are mounted on pivots 21 and and actuated 'by a revolving cam 22 in contact with them. Cam 22 has a lever-handle 23 which may be similar to lever 2 shown in FIGURE 1. a

While I have shown and described certain present preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied within the scope of the following claims:

I claim:

1. A connecting device for flexible tubes and the like comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) a rigid tubular member mounted on said housing;

(c) two elongated clamp members having cam follower surfaces thereon, said clamp members being mounted on Patented July 10, 1962 pivots on said housing and having terminals in converging relation near the end of said tubular member;

(d) spring means for applying a force tending to open said jclarnp members;

(e) a cam member having two eccentric convex working surface in contact with thercam follower surfaces of said clamp members; and r,

(f) means for rota-ting said cam to cause the terminals of said clamp members to converge on said tubular member. 9

2. A clamp for clamping an artery or the like to a conduit comprising:

(a) a housing; 7

(b) a needle mounted in said housing and protruding therefrom; s

(c) a pair of elongated clamp members passing throug at least one wall of said housing, each of said clamp members having a clamping terminal converging near the end of said needle, and an operating arm located insid said housing and extending radially from the axis of said References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 611,038 Lehman Sept. 20, 1898 1,520,716 Judd Dec. 30, 1924 1,697,834 McArthur .Q Jan-.1, 1929 2,234,686 Walter Mar. 11, 1941 

